Easy Ways to Keep Blades Sharp on a Reel Mower

When to Cut

• Cut your grass frequently before it has a chance to grow overly tall. This prevents wear and tear on your mower blades and the grass itself. Try to mow your lawn so that only the top 33 percent of the grass is cut with each pass. Your blades move more freely, spin more quickly, and cut more effectively when only the top of the lawn is being removed. During rainy periods, your lawn may grow rapidly and mowing may not always be possible. Lock your blades to the highest setting and make a pass. Lower the blades and make a second pass across the first. This technique reduces the wear on your blades and your lawn.

Things to Avoid

• Mowing wet grass creates the feeling that your reel mower blades are dull and ineffective, even if they aren't. Wet grass is heavier, thicker and stickier than dry grass. As your reel mower blades work through wet grass, they can become clogged and jammed with damp grass, which then blocks the blades from turning and may stop the cutting process altogether. Mow your lawn when it's dry to keep your blades spinning and working well. Sticks, rocks, very tall grass and other debris can jam your reel mower and damage or dull its blades. Know the limits of your reel mower and use it appropriately.

How to Sharpen

• Use a metal file or grinder to sharpen the blades on your reel mower. Grinders require less effort and get the job done quickly, but they may dig too far into your blade and wear it to a point of uselessness if applied incorrectly. Whichever method you use, aim for a 40-degree cutting angle, and proceed slowly. It's always better to take off less blade than more. Reel mower sharpening kits are available in home improvement stores. These kits attach to the bottom of your mower and grind away just enough blade at just the right angle to sharpen the blades perfectly and easily.

Bedknife Lapping

• Inspect your rotating blades where they come into contact with the stationary bedknife. The bedknife is located at the bottom edge of the mower, and it serves as the opposing blade against which the spinning blades slice your grass. Reel mowers work much in the same way as scissors and require the blades to meet properly so the cut will be clean. If you notice any dings or faults in the bedknife, use a metal file to take them out. Use a paint brush to apply lapping compound to the bedknife, then spin the blades for a period of about 5 minutes to allow them to work into a new sharpened edge.

Winterization

• At the end of the season, your mower must be prepared for winter storage. Because a push reel mower doesn't require the engine maintenance and replacement parts that a gas mower does, more focus can be placed on the blades themselves. Remove the blades from your mower to prevent rusting over months of storage. Sharpen the blades while they're off the mower, and coat them with oil. The oil coating prevents rust, and the final sharpening ensures that your mower is in peak condition and ready to go as soon as the growing season rolls around.

More Tips

• Keep an eye on your cut grass to gauge the sharpness of your mower blades. If the cut is clean and straight, the blades are sufficiently sharp. If the cut looks torn or rough at the edge, it may be time to sharpen your mower blades. If your reel mower blades or bedknife are bent or warped, replace them. There's no purpose trying to mend something that's beyond repair.